Volkswagen Australia has detailed the updated MY19 Golf range this week, with a smaller model range and a new base trim set to arrive in dealerships this October.

The 110TSI base model has been culled, along with the manual Golf R, with the Trendline grade serving as the new entry point to the revised range.

These changes have been wrought ahead of WLTP, or Worldwide harmonised Light vehicle Testing Procedure, rules coming into force in Europe. The test means all model variants and trim grades (with different wheels, heavy equipment like sunroofs etc.) are individually assessed, forcing manufacturers to adapt (and trim) their line-ups accordingly. What impact that will have to pricing remains to be seen.

We know the Trendline (below) will maintain its current equipment list for 2019. That means the car gets autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, 16-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a leather steering wheel, rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, manoeuvre braking assist front and rear, auto headlights and wipers, lumbar adjustment for the front seats, along with LED daytime-running lights and tail-lights.

For 2019, the Comfortline gains keyless entry and start, power-folding side mirrors, and floor mats as standard equipment, on top of additional features like satellite navigation, dual-zone climate control, 17-inch alloys, chrome accents inside and out, along with a storage drawer under the front passenger seat.

Proactive occupant protection, selectable driving profiles, and a personalisation function are also included for MY19.

As before, option packages for the Golf include the Driver Assistance Package on Trendline and Comfortline, which brings the safety tech from the Highline, and the Sound & Vision Package (Comfortline and Highline), which adds the Active Info digital display, a 9.2-inch navigation system with gesture control, and a 400W Dynaudio sound system.

The Golf's performance range has seen updates too, with the Golf GTI now getting the 'Performance' specification as standard equipment. As previously reported, that brings a more powerful 180kW/370Nm engine tune, a seven-speed DSG, larger brakes, and a mechanical limited-slip front differential, but no more manual option.

Also new to the GTI as standard for 2019 are the Active Info Display, along with the Driver Assistance Package – adaptive cruise with traffic jam assist, lane assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, park assist and light assist are all standard.

Like the GTI, the Golf R gains the driver assist suite as standard, though it continues to be unavailable with the automatic park assist feature available on other models. The six-speed manual transmission has also been dropped for 2019, as the range is narrowed down due to the upcoming WLTP emissions regime.

The performance range has seen an option pack shuffle, too. GTI variants are available with the Sound & Style Package, which adds 19-inch 'Brescia' alloys from the Performance Edition 1, a 9.2-inch navigation system with gesture control, voice control, and the 400W Dynaudio sound system, along with the Luxury Package – bringing Vienna leather upholstery, heated front seats, electric driver seat adjustment with memory, memory function for the exterior mirrors, and a panoramic glass sunroof.

Meanwhile, R buyers will pay extra for a panoramic sunroof, and the 400W Dynaudio sound system.

Stay tuned to CarAdvice for a full pricing and specifications rundown for the MY19 Golf range in the lead-up to its launch in the coming months. VW wouldn't be drawn on whether we'd see a significant increase in price, save for the promise of a strong value equation. What that looks like remains to be seen.

Noticed a lot of Volkswagen coverage on the site today? The company held a briefing about its upcoming models this morning, and we want to get you the news as quickly as possible. Stay tuned for more.